Structure golf club bag support

ABSTRACT

An improved structure golf club bag support comprised of two clevis sections disposed at intervals apart, furthermore, at an outwardly oriented included angle on the appropriate positions of the upper lateral edges and bottom mount sides; support members, each top and bottom ends support members connected to the clevis sections, each support member consisting of a primary and secondary sub-member; a coupling fixture at the center portion having hinge tabs connected to a linkage hole in each secondary sub-member; a positioning torque spring, having a linearly projecting upper and lower tip that are situated against each primary and secondary sub-member. When the golf club bag is inclined at the two clevis sections, pressure exerted onto the secondary sub-members and directed outward against the primary sub-members, at which time, the primary and the secondary sub-members are articulated into a rigid pyramidical state that provides for stable support.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The invention herein relates to golfing accessories, specificallyan improved structure golf club bag support that provides formaintaining a golf club bag in an inclined state. Each support member isenhanced and consists of a primary sub-member and a secondarysub-member, with the elasticity of a torque spring utilized to force theprimary sub-members and the secondary sub-members into a propped open,horizontal position (due to the resultant outward and downward exertionof pressure) and resiliently restoring the primary sub-members and thesecondary sub-members into a straight state upon closure. In terms ofpractical utility, the leg extremities of the support members openoutward into a pyramidical state that furnishes ample bracing in aconvenient and safe manner of operation that stably postures the golfclub bag and, furthermore, without occupying an excessive amount ofspace.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Since the sport of golf is a rewarding leisure and recreationalactivity that does not involve extreme athletic prerequisites, the gameis suitable for a wide range of age groups. Although a high-end consumerball sport, current levels of affluence have allowed a surprising degreeof participation by the general public. However, the greatest difficultyof playing golf has to do with the issue of carrying bags containingheavy golf clubs. Since golf courses have certain number of holes alonga considerable expanse of area and shouldering a weighty golf club bagrequires much effort, many people employ a caddie or rent a golf cart tocarry their golf clubs bags. These options not only incurs a additionalexpense that can be quite high, but also leaves golfers reliant oncaddies and golf carts that are not always available when needed. Insuch circumstances, golfers must handle things themselves, and a roundof golf is often so tiresome that any leisure and recreational value isnegated. Conventional golf club bags, such as those that utilize the bagitself to stand upright, tend to fall over when placed on irregularterrain or hit, the gravity of the impact damaging the wooden clubs. Ifa golf club bag is placed horizontally on the ground, this not onlysoils the golf club bag, but requires one to bend at the waist to accessgolf clubs, increasing the risk of back aches for older players. Tofacilitate the removal of golf clubs, some golf club bags areadditionally equipped with innovative support structures. Referring toFIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the support structure of one such conventional golfclub bag consists of a pair of fastening fixtures 11 disposed along theupper lateral extent of a golf club bag 1, a support rod 12 with a legcap 121 for standing ground contact that is fitted to the first side 111of each fastening fixture 11, a pair of tie bars 13 in union with thesecond sides 112, and a support mount 14 hinged to the bottom side ofthe said tie bars 13, with the support mount 14 positioned at the loweredge of a golf bag 1, and a clasping component 15 that is utilized toadjust the secured height of the tie bars 13. The said structure isutilized by pivoting the support rods 12 outward until the tie bars 13arrest the support rods 12 into position, thereby fully articulating thesupport rods 12 into an open braced posture, at which time the supportrods 12 are at an included angle of θ1 or approximately 90 degrees withrespect to the golf club bag 1 to provide for the placement of the golfclub bag 1 in an inclined state which occupies considerable space (asshown in FIG. 2); furthermore, since the conjoined portion of the saidsupport rods 12 and tie bars 13 is adjacent to the upper edge of thegolf club bag 1 and constitutes an imbalanced means of support betweenthe support rods 12 and the corpus of the golf club bag 1 because thereinforcing relationship of the support rods 12 is insufficient andsusceptible to leaning when force is applied, the said structure isbasically incapable of providing solid support; the movability of thetie bars 13 contributes further instability and, furthermore, the legcaps 121 of the support rods 12 are so close that the tie bars 3 oftensnag the leg caps 121 during the prevaricated movement of the tie bars3, which disables opening because the leg caps 121 are caught andseriously affects whether the support rods 12 are operable for purposesof buttressing; as such, the said conventional structure is impracticaland requires further improvement and remedies.

[0005] In view of the design and application drawbacks of the saidconventional golf club bag support structure, the applicant conductedextensive research and originated progressive improvements based onprofessional experience gained while engaged in the golf equipmentmanufacturing as well as investigations into related products to addressthe inadequacies of the conventional products that culminated in thesuccessful development of the structure of the invention herein which issubmitted as a new patent application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The primary objective of the invention herein is to provide animproved structure golf club bag support in which the support structuremaintains a golf club bag in an inclined state, each support memberenhanced and consisting of a primary sub-member and a secondarysub-member, with the elasticity of a torque spring utilized to force theprimary sub-members and the secondary sub-members into a propped open,horizontal position (due to the resultant outward and downward exertionof pressure) and resiliently restoring the primary sub-members and thesecondary sub-members into a straight state upon closure such that theleg extremities of the support members open outward into a pyramidicalstate that furnishes ample bracing in a convenient and safe manner ofoperation that stably postures the golf club bag and, furthermore,without occupying an excessive amount of space.

[0007] Another objective of the invention herein is to provide animproved structure golf club bag support in which the structure of thepresent invention forms a pyramidical support that utilizes athree-point equidistant tripodal bracing approach that achieves theobjective of keeping the golf club bag standing and more difficult totopple.

[0008] Yet another objective of the invention herein is to provide animproved structure golf club bag support in which the primarysub-members of the said structure have excursive sleeve members at theirbottom sides with hinge tabs that are connected to a linkage hole in thesecondary sub-member as well as a locating hole that enables a nut A tobe utilized for the active installation of two large wheels, which alongwith a small wheel installed in a recess having a pair of catch slottabs formed in the bottom mount constitutes a three-point support havingrolling capability that directly provides a means of carting the golfclub bag.

[0009] Still another objective of the invention herein is to provide animproved structure golf club bag support in which the support membersoperate independently and, furthermore, simultaneously withoutinterference from the snagging of the support legs to achieve theobjective of the rapid and safe opening of the support structure.

[0010] To enable a further understanding of the structural features andother items of the present invention for purposes of review andreference, the brief description of the drawings below are followed thedetailed description invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011]FIG. 1 is an isometric drawing of a conventional structure.

[0012]FIG. 2 is an orthographic drawing of the conventional structureduring utilization.

[0013]FIG. 3-A is an exploded assembly drawing of the invention herein.

[0014]FIG. 3-B is an exploded drawing of the structure of the inventionherein.

[0015]FIG. 4 is an exploded drawing of the invention herein assembledinto a golf club bag with a different bottom mount.

[0016]FIG. 5 is an exploded drawing of the invention herein assembledinto a golf club bag with an extension-type bottom mount.

[0017]FIG. 6-A is an exploded drawing of another structural embodimentof the invention herein.

[0018]FIG. 6-B is an exploded drawing of another structural embodimentof the invention herein.

[0019]FIG. 7-A is an isometric and exploded drawing of invention hereininstalled onto a golf cart.

[0020]FIG. 7-B is an exploded drawing of the invention herein whenwheels are installed.

[0021]FIG. 8 is an orthographic drawing of the invention herein duringutilization.

[0022]FIG. 9 is an orthographic drawing of the invention herein duringutilization, but in another mode.

[0023]FIG. 10-A is an isometric drawing of the invention herein duringutilization.

[0024]FIG. 10-B is an isometric drawing of the invention herein duringutilization with its support members extended.

[0025]FIG. 11-A is a drawing of the first pivoting means of theinvention herein.

[0026]FIG. 11-B is a drawing of the second pivoting means of theinvention herein.

[0027]FIG. 11-C is a drawing of the third pivoting means of theinvention herein.

[0028]FIG. 11-D is a drawing of the fourth pivoting means of theinvention herein.

[0029]FIG. 11-E is a drawing of the fifth pivoting means of theinvention herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] Referring to the figures, the structure of the invention hereinis comprised of a golf club bag 2 opening mount 21 and bottom mount 22;two clevis sections 211 and 221 respectively disposed at suitableintervals apart, aligned along the center line of and, furthermore, atan outwardly oriented included angle on their lateral edges; a pair ofsupport members 3, the top and bottom ends of which are connected to theclevis sections 211 and 221, each said support member 3 consisting of aprimary sub-member 31 and a secondary sub-member 32; a coupling fixture33 at the center portion of each primary sub-member 31 having hinge tabs331 that are connected to a linkage hole 321 in the secondarysub-members 32; and a positioning torque spring 4 (see FIG. 3-B), thetorque spring 4 having a linearly projecting upper tip 41 and lower tip42 that are respectively situated against the primary sub-members 31 andthe secondary sub-members 32 such that the support members 3 arenormally maintained in a straight state as though accommodating a bag(the normal arrangement during non-use, as shown in FIG. 3-A); when theinvention herein is utilized as a support structure, inclining the golfclub bag 2 causes the secondary sub-members 32 in the bottom mount 22 torotate pronely at the linkage holes 321, at which time the unconnectedleg extremities 315 pivot outward into the open state (as shown in FIG.10-A) such that the primary sub-members 31 are positioned in a verticalstate and the secondary sub-members 32 are positioned in a horizontalstate, while the upper tips 41 and lower tips 42 of the torque spring 4exerting pressure outward and downward effectively produce a relativelysmall included angle of θ2 to form a pyramidical support that utilizes athree-point equidistant tripodal bracing approach that achieves theobjective of keeping the golf club bag 2 standing and more difficult totopple (the opened support arrangement detailed in FIG. 8 and FIG. 10);furthermore, the invention herein can also be equipped with a clamp-typebottom mount 8 and an extension-type bottom mount 9 for using differentgolf club bags 2, both of which are effectively capable of affordingstable support (as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5); as such, utilizing thestructure of the invention herein is not limited by changes in the typeof bottom mount.

[0031] Additionally, the coupling fixture 33 of the invention herein canbe adapted into an excursive sleeve member 311 at the bottom sides ofthe primary sub-members 31 having hinge tabs 312 that are connected tothe linkage holes 321 in the secondary sub-members 32, while alsoincluding the positioning torque spring 4 (see FIG. 6-B), the torquespring 4 similarly having a linearly projecting upper tip 41 and lowertip 42 that are respectively positioned against the primary sub-members31 and the secondary sub-members 32 such that the support members 3 arenot propped open while postured in a straightened state as thoughaccommodating a bag (the arrangement during non-use, as shown in FIG.6-A); when the support members 3 are propped open for use, the bottomends of the sleeve members 311 are against the ground and a three-degreeangle of support is effectively formed between them and the golf clubbag 2 at a slight included angle of θ3 similar to the relatively smallincluded angle of θ2, enabling an effectively reduce utilization space(as shown in FIG. 9); moreover, a locating hole 313 is disposed in eachsleeve member 311 of invention herein enabling a nut A to be utilizedfor the active installation of two large wheels 5 and, furthermore, arecess 222 having a pair of catch slot tabs 223 is formed in the bottommount 22 for the placement of a small wheel 6, the said large wheel 5and small wheel 6 constituting a three-point support with rollingcapability that directly provides a means of carting the golf club bag 2which can be towed about with minimal effort by a pull handle 212positioned at the bag opening mount 21 (the structural assembly shown inFIG. 7-A and FIG. 7-B).

[0032] Furthermore, the clevis sections 211 and 221 of the inventionherein disposed at the golf club bag 2 upper edge and bottom mount 22can be of several arrangements, including an engaging slot 314 fittedonto a cross bar 23 (as shown in FIG. 11-A), side pins 316 slipped intotwo lateral receiving notches 24 (as shown in FIG. 11-B), a socket 25ensconcing a ball-ended rod 317 (as shown in FIG. 11-C), a ball-endedfitting 26 secured in a socket-tipped rod 318 (as shown in FIG. 11-D),and a bolt B inserted through a sleeve section 319 and tightened in athreaded hole 27 (as shown in FIG. 11-E), with the various types ofhinging having no effect on structural functionality.

[0033] In summation of the foregoing section, since the invention hereindemonstrably improves upon the shortcomings of conventional golf clubbag standing supports, is of a structural design that includes built-ingolf cart capability, provides three-point, equidistant stable supportand, furthermore, occupies minimal space, the practical utility andinnovative structure of the present invention meets new patentapplication requirements and is lawfully submitted for review and thegranting of the commensurate patent rights.

1. An improved structure golf club bag support comprised of two clevissections respectively disposed at suitable intervals apart, alignedalong the center line of and, furthermore, at an outwardly orientedincluded angle on the appropriate positions of the upper lateral edgesand bottom mount sides of a golf club bag; support members, the top andbottom ends of each said support members connected to the said clevissections, each said support member consisting of a primary sub-memberand a secondary sub-member; a coupling fixture at the center portion ofeach said primary sub-member having hinge tabs that are connected to alinkage hole in each said secondary sub-member; and a positioning torquespring, the said torque spring having a linearly projecting upper tipand lower tip that are respectively situated against each said primarysub-member and each said secondary sub-member such that the said supportmembers are normally maintained in a straight state as thoughaccommodating a bag; however, when the said golf club bag is inclined atthe said two clevis sections of the said bottom mount, pressure exertedonto the said secondary sub-members and at the same time directedoutward against the said primary sub-members causes the said primarysub-members to open outward away from the inclined said golf club bag,at which time the said golf club bag, the said primary sub-members, andthe said secondary sub-members are articulated into a rigid pyramidicalstate (triangular when viewed from a lateral perspective) that providesfor stable support; conversely, when the said golf club bag is broughtfully vertical, the said primary sub-members and the horizontal saidsecondary sub-members are restored to their bag accommodating, straightstate due to the outward impelling of the said upper tips and the saidlower tips of the said torque springs, with the two said support membersoperating independently and, furthermore, simultaneously to achieve thepractical objective of eliminating interference from the leg extremitiesof the said support members.
 2. As mentioned in claim 1 of the improvedstructure golf club bag support of the invention herein, the said bottommount of the invention herein provides for the pivotable connection oftwo said support members and the engaging elements of the saidconjoinment can be independent or built into the said bottom mount, theform of the said bottom mount not affecting the pivoting of the saidsupport members.
 3. As mentioned in claim 1 of the improved structuregolf club bag support of the invention herein, the said clevis sectionsof the invention herein disposed at the said golf club bag upper edgeand said bottom mount can be of virtually any connective arrangement,including hinging by means of enslotting, socketing, and pin insertion,all of which are sufficient to achieve the functionality of the presentinvention.
 4. As mentioned in claim 1 of the improved structure golfclub bag support of the invention herein, the said levis sections of theinvention herein for hinging the upper edges of the said support memberscan be built into a bag opening mount or be separate assemblies.
 5. Asmentioned in claim 1 of the improved structure golf club bag support ofthe invention herein, the said primary sub-members have excursive sleevemembers at their bottom sides with hinge tabs that are connected to thelinkage hole in the said secondary sub-members as well as a locatinghole that enables a nut to be utilized for the active installation oftwo large wheels, which along with a small wheel installed in a recesshaving a pair of catch slot tabs formed in the said bottom mountconstitutes a three-point support having rolling capability thatdirectly provides a means of carting the said golf club bag.